Glen Day visits Okatie Elementary School

Jessica Sparks/ Bluffton Today
Professional golfer Glen Day speaks to the students at Okatie Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon. Okatie won the Plaid About Reading competition, hosted by the Heritage Classic Foundation.

Jessica Sparks/ Bluffton Today
Valecia Whitfiled's class read the most books as part of the Plaid About Reading program than any class at Okatie Elementary School. Okatie won the competition, reading a total of nearly 9,000 books.

The students at Okatie Elementary School understand the Tartan rule, “Plaid is Loud.”

They showed their pride in the area’s golf traditions on Tuesday afternoon during a presentation by professional golfer Glen Day.

As Day walked into the doors of the school’s cafeteria, the room echoed with screams of excitement. Students were reaching to high-five Day, and were yelling questions at him as he made his way to the front of the room.

Day, who won the Heritage in 1999, visited the school on Tuesday afternoon as part of the Second Annual Plaid About Reading program, hosted by the Heritage Classic Foundation. Students at the school read almost 9,000 books, winning the competition between area elementary schools.

Valecia Whitfield’s first grade class held the honor of reading the most books in the school, logging more than 2,000 books among her 20 students. Whitfield said the students kept a record of how many books they read at home, as homework and in the classroom.

Day and Sir Willie Innes tested the students’ knowledge about golf and their putting skills. Seven students were called to the stage to putt with Day. Second grader Jaden Williams was the only student in the group to sink her putt.

Day also fielded questions from the students such as whether it’s hard to play golf.

“It’s not hard, it’s just something you have to learn,” he said.

According to the Heritage Classic Foundation, students from nine elementary schools read more than 20,000 books during the competition.

Principal Jamie Pinckney said she was glad the students were recognized for their efforts.

“I think that it’s wonderful,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for the students.”